Year
September 2022 – February 2023 (Part-Time)

Disciplines
UI/UX Design, User Researcher, Content Writing

Role
UI/UX Designer, UX Researcher

Tools Used
Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop

Why Do Kids Struggle with Chores?

Growing up, chores felt endless and purposeless—a universal reality kids face even now amidst distractions. Traditional chore apps turn chores into mini-achievements without building intrinsic skills.

Through testing for both parents and kids, I sought to understand how to make daily tasks meaningful, engaging, and fun for children.

Introducing TaskTeddy: The Chore Companion App

Task Teddy makes chores fun for kids and helps parents establish positive routines. By combining gamification, animations, and cognitive activities, it motivates kids to complete tasks independently.

Task Teddy solves the key pain points (children and parents):

1. Addressing boredom and loneliness during chores by introducing a supportive, animated buddy.
2. Encouraging a sense of independence while fostering positive digital habits.
3. Providing clear task feedback and engaging reward loops that reinforce a sense of achievement.

Children Perspectives

Boredom/Loneliness in Chores

Children were intrigued by the possibility of having a companion to spend time with them.

Gamification/Reward System

Based on their responses, I developed a set of user personas:

Parent Perspectives

App That Fosters Independence

Parents are seeking an app that enhances real-life responsibility rather than adding more screen time.

Parent Often Uses Reward Too

Parents often motivate children with rewards like playtime/screen time, boosting their eagerness through praise and small incentives.

Tried Chore Apps–Didn't Worked!

Meet Teddy: The Virtual Bear Buddy!

Teddy is a friendly companion who animates, cheers, and mimics the child's chores, making tasks feel less lonely!

Teddy's Superstar Pose

Teddy Congratulating the Child

Teddy Folding Clothes (Chore Example)

Core Features: Making Chores Fun and Structured

1) Interactive Chore Guidance & Timer Visuals

Teddy provides step-by-step guidance through each chore, making tasks manageable and fun with playful animations and intuitive instructions.

• Teddy makes folding clothes engaging by mimicking the task, while a timer and digital countdown teach kids time management.

2) Real-Time Visual Progress Tracking

Teddy keeps kids motivated by showcasing progress and celebrating milestones during the chore.

• A star-filled progress bar tracks tasks, rewarding kids with three golden stars upon completion before moving to the reward screen.
  

3) Positive Reinforcement Through Engaging Rewards

After completing their tasks, kids are rewarded with fun and personalized incentives that encourage them to stay motivated and excited.

• Rewards include surprise items like: stickers for Teddy, virtual outfits, or playful animations, keeping the chore experience enjoyable and fresh.
  

This concept ties directly into the next section, Rewarding Achievements, where specific reward options and feedback-driven updates are explained in detail.

Rewarding Achievements: Expanding on Positive Reinforcement

I designed an interactive reward system to celebrate kids’ achievements without losing focus, making Teddy the bear buddy part of the fun and chore completion something to look forward to!

Before: Initial Rewards

Reward Options:

• Cute Animal Photo: Static images offered brief engagement.
• Live Otter Cam: A short live stream from Monterey Bay Aquarium.
• Doodle Pad: An open-ended drawing tool for kids to express creativity.

Limitations:

• Testing showed low engagement with static rewards like the doodle pad.
• Kids lingered too long on these options.
• Parents noted a lack of urgency and progression on these screens.

After: Updated Rewards Based on Feedback

Popular kids' games inspired brief, rewarding interactions (under 5 minutes) that motivate kids to complete chores. These quick interactions provide a sense of accomplishment without lengthy distractions, delivering a dopamine boost.

Secret Surprise Box 🎁

Pain Point: Lack of Motivation for Completing Chores

• Kids pick one of three boxes after each task, revealing a surprise reward.
  
• Rewards include stickers, outfits for Teddy, or celebratory messages, adding excitement.

Memory Match Fun 🧠

Pain Point: Need for Engaging & Cognitive-Boosting Activities

• A quick memory game where kids match cards to win a reward.
  
• Engages memory skills while providing a fun break from chores.

User Testing Feedback

• Children: Kids loved the celebratory animations but wanted Teddy to "do more," inspiring chore-specific actions like folding clothes and cheering.
  
• Parents: Parents found that engaging reward choices motivated kids to complete chores independently, leading to the refinement of two fun, structured options.

Key Insights from Testing

• Celebratory Animations: Teddy's expressive celebrations motivated kids by reinforcing the value of rewards.
• Curated Reward System: Limiting to two engaging rewards created excitement without overwhelming kids.
• Increased Motivation: Parents observed greater consistency and enthusiasm in kids’ chore completion.

Impact & Learnings

• Iterating on user feedback highlighted the impact of fun and structure in TaskTeddy’s design.
• TaskTeddy turned chores into achievements, making the experience rewarding for kids.
• Kids felt supported, parents needed fewer reminders, and routines became smoother for all.